Ski-skate



D. A, BENNER ET-AL SKISKATE Filed Feb. 17, 1940 Aug. 19, 1941.-

Patented Aug. 19, 1941 sx1-SKATE Dale A. Benner, Alton, Ill., and Ambrose F. Wimbush, St. Louis, Mo., assgnors to Dale A. Benner, Alton, Ill.

Application February 17, 194-0, Serial No. 319,402

4 Claims.

This invention rela/tes to a ski-skate; and has special reference to a skate having an elongated foot-piece in the general form or shape of a ski and having rollers under its intermediate and end portions, and means in connection with its intermediate portion for attachment to the shoe or foot of the user.

Objects of the invention are to provide a skiskate comprising an elongated curved foot-piece having brackets attached to the underside thereof near each end and additional brackets attached to the under intermediate portion, means in connection with the end brackets for rotatively mounting a single narrow roller in connection with each thereof, andmeans in connection with the intermediate brackets `for mounting a pair of spaced narrow rollers thereon;1 to provide rollers adapted to be mounted in substitution for said narrow rollers to condition the ski-skate for operation along grassy or other similar surfaces; and to provide means adaptingthe ski-skate iorattachment to persons wearing shoes of diierent lengths or sizes.

I Anotherobject of ithe invention is to provide improved sticks constituting a part of the equipmentfor a pair of ski-skates.

"Other objects and advantages of the `invention should be apparent from the following description, reference being made to the annexed drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a pair of skiskates and sticks made in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of` one of the skiskates shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of one of the skiskates showing the two narrow `end rollers and the two co-axial narrow intermediate rollers in connectiontherewith. Y

Fig; 4 `is a perspective view showing one end of a ski-skate provided with an upwardly curved front end portion.

Fig. `5 is a detail sectional view showing `an appropriate mounting for one of the narrow end rollersl of the ski-skate. 1

6 `is a similar sectional View showing the mounting for the two intermediate narrow rollers. f r

Fig.:7 isi-a sectional view showing the wide rollers substituted for the narrow rollers, and the useof the narrow roller spacers as bushings for supporting the wide rollers. l I

Fig.` 8 is a side elevation of a portion of `a skiskate having a shoe permanently` attached thereto.

v(Cl. BSO-11.10)

A. description of one ski-skate should serve for both since each is a duplicate of the other.

The ski-skate comprises an elongated resilient foot-piece I permanently curved throughout I its length and which may be composed of a single thickness of wood or ply-board, or other appropriate material. The ends of the footpiece are symmetrically curved upwardly and may be enclosed in metallic clips 2 if desired; or an upwardly curved toe-piece 3 of metal or other material may be attached to the forward end of each foot-piece.

Brackets, which may be of duplicate construction, are attached to the underside of the footpiece I in spaced relationship, one of said bracketsbeng near` each end and one near the middle of the ski-skate. Each bracket comprises a metallic plate shaped to provide a flat attaching portion 4 and two integral downwardly extended ears 5 at the ends of theattaching portion. The attachingportions` 4 extend approximately the full width kof the foot-piece I, and the outer surfaces ofthe ears 5 are `in alinement with the side edges of said foot-piece. A sheet or body 6 of elastic material, such as live rubber or the like, is secured between each bracket and the foot-piece of the ski-skate. 'Bolts 'I pass through the foot-piece I, the cushions E, and the attaching portions I of the brackets,` and'have nuts 8 screwed on their lower ends andsecuring the brackets and the 'cushioning pads to the footpiece. The cushioning pads permit the brackets and the supporting rollers to yield sufliciently to soften the percussive effect resulting from impact of the rollers against solid obstructions, and also constitute resilient vsupport for the `skiskate in operation. 'Ihe heads of the bolts 1 are preferably at the upper side of the ski-skate.

An axle V9 is mounted in each bracket, and has a head I 0 on one end, the opposite end having a hole for receiving a retaining ycotter pin II or the like. The axles 9 in. the several brackets are parallel with each other, and are removable and replaceable as desired. A narrow roller I2 is mounted on the axle 9 at each`end of the skiskate, and a pair of similar rollers I3 are mounted on the intermediate axle 9. All of the rollers are rotative upon the axles on which they are mounted, the rollers I2 being mounted between the inner ends of spacer tubes I4 on the axles 9, and the rollers I 3 being held spaced apart by a spacer tube I5 on the intermediate axle 9. Thus, it will be seen that the two end rollers I2 are in alinement approximately at the longitudinal axis I of the foot-piece Land that the two intermediate rollers 4I3 are near the side edges of the volves the removal of the narrow rollers I?. and I3 and the substitution of rollers of appropriate form and unpaved surfaces. 'Ihe axles 9 may be withdrawn from the supporting ears 5 when theV cotter pins or fasteners 'II are detached. 'We provide a series of elongated rollers I6 each having a length approxirnatelyv equalto theY distance dimensions for operation alongi.

between the bracket ears '5. The spacer sleeves j I4 and I5 are insertableinto and withdrawable Vfrom openings' II. through Vthe rollers iste-constitute supporting bushings forv said rollers. After the bushings have been placed inthe rollers I6 as described, andxafter said 'rollers have been placed. betweenfthe respective pairs of ears 5, the axles 9 may be "passed'through said 'buslif ing rollers and detachedby the cotterpins II..v This provides a wide or longroller at eachA end and .at the-middle of theskiskate adapting or transforming the same 'for usefuponsurfaces other than hard flooring or pavements. J

The attaching device for each s'lnskate com-- prises a heel plate I8 attached to the underside of the foot-piece I slightly rearwardly beyond the middle axle 9 rand having an upturned curved flange I9 along its rear margin. 'The heel 'plate V I8 may be secured to the foot-piece- I zbyremovableand replaceable `fasteners 20.1 A; strap 2| passes through slot's in the flangey I9 and is equipped with an attaching `buckle 22and a guard piece 23 to prevent the buckle from causing' dis# comfort to the wearer. A Vtoestrap`24 extends across Athe underside of the foot-piece'.A and is equipped with an attaching buckle 25 and a guard 26 therefor.v The strap 24 maybe secured in different adjusted positions with respect ltothe heel piece I8, as required Vby 'the size of the foot or the shoe of the wearer. i

A clip .Z'I'is attached to the underside of; the footpiece forwardly beyond the 'middle bracket, and has Va number of spaced openings 28 through which the strap 24 may be selectively passed.` `A holding string 29 may attach ,the strap 24 to the foot-'piece I` to prevent accidental lossordetach-Y ment thereof. placed upon the heel plate `Iii and against .the curved inner surface of the flange I9, the' strap 2| may be passed "'acrssthe instep'and around,

theankle and'attachedjby the buckle p22.' The strap 24 may be'attachedin ari-obvious manner bym'eansvofthezbuckle 25., a

If desiredya 'shoe 3|! mayibepermanently attached to the `foot-piece I above the' middle.

bracket. The shoe may bejused insubstitution for the strap-attaching devices described, in' which case the heel plate' I8 andits connections and the part `2l' andfstrapili are omitted.'v

A'pairof ski sticks may be'providedasiapart of ,each ski-skate set: Each stickv3! is of ap' propriate length having on its lower fend an elasticferrule or socket 32 Aandl adjacent thereto abrakemember 33.. The brake member33`is shown` as of open or skeletonized form-including a ring integrallyconnected by spokes 34 with an` attaching `hub 3:35 adjustably'. mounted ,on/r the Whenthe heel ofthe.; user is 'without departure from the nature and principle ofthe invention.

We claim: l. Aski-skate comprising an elongated footpiece having its end portions symmetrically curved upwardly, three longitudinally spaced duplicate `brackets attached to the underside and extending approximately the full width of said footpiec'e,'the two end brackets being attached to said respective upwardly curvedend portions and the third bracket being attached `nearthe middle of said foot-piece, axles mounted in said respective brackets and extending approximately the full transverse width of said foot-piece, four duplicate rollers mounted onsaid axles,ione of said rollers being on each of said axles near the respective ends of the foot-piece, and the remaining two of said`rollers being on the axle near the middle Vof the foot-piece, and elements mounted on said respective axles and cooperating with 4said brackets for holdingsaid rollers in said positions?, and leaving said rollers freely rotative relative', to each other. f l

f2. A` ski-skate comprising an elongated resilient wood foot-piece having its end portions symmetrically curved upwardly, three longitudinally` f versely thereof, and tubes removably mounted on said respective axles for holdingfour duplicateV narrow rollers thereon, one of Which'roller's is at the middle of each end axle and two of which rollers are at the ends of the middle axle, or for holding three duplicate rollers, one on each of said axles and extending approximately the full width thereof, as desired. Y

3. A ski-skate comprising an elongated footpiece having its end portions symmetrically curved upwardly, three longitudinally spaced duplicatebrackets attached to the underside and extending the full width of said foot-pieces, the two end brackets being attached to'said respective upwardly curved end portions and the third bracket being attached near the middle oflsaid foot-piece, elastic bodies secured between said brackets and said foot-piece, axles rnduntedinl said brackets and extending transversely thereof, elements removably mounted on said respective axlesrfor holding four duplicate narrow rollers thereon, one of which rollers is at the middle of each end axle and two of which rollers are at the ends of the middle axle, or for holding three 'du.

4. A ski-skate comprising an elongated footpiece having its end portions symmetrically curved upwardly, three longitudinally spaced duplicate brackets attached to the underside and extending approximately the full width of said foot-piece, the two end brackets being attached to said respective upwardly curved end portions and the third bracket being attached near the middle of said foot-piece, axles mounted in said respective brackets and extending transversely w thereof, a roller mounted on each of said end brackets, and a device mounted on said middle axle for holding two lduplicate narrow rollers in spaced relationship thereon, one of which rollers is near each side of said middle bracket, or for holding a single roller on said middle aXle eX- tending approximately the full width of said middle bracket, as desired.

DALE A. BENNER.

AMBROSE F. WIMBUSH. 

